Compare conductors and insulators, series and parallel circuits, switches, fuses and circuit symbols. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
3. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
5. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
6. What happens when you open (turn off) a switch in a simple series circuit: it creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off, or it makes the bulb brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
8. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
9. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
10. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. Why are the lights and sockets in a home wired in PARALLEL rather than in series: each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others, or parallel uses no wire?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 61 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
A complete (closed) loop with no gaps
Current only flows around a continuous, closed conducting pathway.
2. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
They become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases
In a series loop, adding more bulbs increases resistance and splits the battery voltage across more components.
3. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Thermistor
A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor.
4. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
It provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit
A cell converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
5. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Light-dependent resistor (LDR)
In bright light an LDR’s resistance falls; in darkness its resistance rises.
6. What happens when you open (turn off) a switch in a simple series circuit: it creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off, or it makes the bulb brighter?
It creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off
A switch controls a circuit by safely opening or closing the conducting gap.
7. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Electric motor
A circle with an “M” represents an electric motor that converts electrical energy into kinetic rotation.
8. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
The current is the SAME at every point in a series loop
Charge is conserved—the same number of coulombs per second passes every point in a single loop; energy is transferred, not current used up.
9. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Electrical conductors
Metals have free-moving (delocalised) electrons that conduct electric current readily.
10. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Electrical insulators
Insulators have tightly bound electrons and block the flow of electric current.
11. Why are the lights and sockets in a home wired in PARALLEL rather than in series: each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others, or parallel uses no wire?
Each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others
In a parallel circuit, if one lamp fails or is switched off, current still flows through the other branches.
12. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Graphite
Graphite has delocalised electrons between its carbon layers, allowing it to conduct electricity.
12 questions · Seed 61 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
3. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
5. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
6. What happens when you open (turn off) a switch in a simple series circuit: it creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off, or it makes the bulb brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
8. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
9. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
10. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. Why are the lights and sockets in a home wired in PARALLEL rather than in series: each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others, or parallel uses no wire?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 61 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
A complete (closed) loop with no gaps
Current only flows around a continuous, closed conducting pathway.
2. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
They become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases
In a series loop, adding more bulbs increases resistance and splits the battery voltage across more components.
3. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Thermistor
A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor.
4. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
It provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit
A cell converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
5. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Light-dependent resistor (LDR)
In bright light an LDR’s resistance falls; in darkness its resistance rises.
6. What happens when you open (turn off) a switch in a simple series circuit: it creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off, or it makes the bulb brighter?
It creates a gap (open circuit) that stops the current flowing and turns the bulb off
A switch controls a circuit by safely opening or closing the conducting gap.
7. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Electric motor
A circle with an “M” represents an electric motor that converts electrical energy into kinetic rotation.
8. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
The current is the SAME at every point in a series loop
Charge is conserved—the same number of coulombs per second passes every point in a single loop; energy is transferred, not current used up.
9. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Electrical conductors
Metals have free-moving (delocalised) electrons that conduct electric current readily.
10. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Electrical insulators
Insulators have tightly bound electrons and block the flow of electric current.
11. Why are the lights and sockets in a home wired in PARALLEL rather than in series: each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others, or parallel uses no wire?
Each light is on its own branch so it receives full voltage and can be switched on or off independently without turning off the others
In a parallel circuit, if one lamp fails or is switched off, current still flows through the other branches.
12. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Graphite
Graphite has delocalised electrons between its carbon layers, allowing it to conduct electricity.
12 questions · Seed 61 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification